Judgment On Egypt (19:1-20:6)
Neal Pollard
For many centuries during the timespan of the Old Testament, Egypt was considered a dominant world power. The book of Exodus is devoted to revealing God’s power over Egypt, who had His people enslaved over 400 years–first, through the ten plagues and then through Israel’s deliverance through the Red Sea that drowned Pharaoh’s army. This was an enduring reminder for God’s people through the ages to trust Him over man. It’s mentioned 25 times in the Psalms alone.
Now, Isaiah speaks of the judgment God would bring on them in times to come. God is going to defeat Egypt and her gods as He does battle with her (1). He would accomplish this through civil war (1-4), economic disaster (5-10), and poor leadership (11-15)(see Gary Smith, NAC, 354). God’s sovereignty over the affairs of nations can be a blessing to those committed to righteousness, but when He stands against them He has the power and providence to do so through the very people themselves. The civil war is described as this thorough division, “Egyptians against Egyptians” (2), “each against his neighbor” (2), and in the midst of it they will turn to the foolish counsel of man and idols rather than God (3-4). The economic disaster would result from natural disasters that would have ripple effects throughout their economy–fishermen (5-8) to manufacturers (9) throughout the workforce (10). The wise men and kings, the princes, and their cornerstone members were confused and confounded (11ff). There’s nothing they could do to stop it (15).
What I find remarkable is how even to a people so opposed to God and so full of wickedness, God would not give up on them. He could not force them to be saved and He would not excuse them from judgment, but look at His heart. Six times in chapter 19, He says, “In that day” (16,18,19, 21, 23-24). God would deliver Egypt, through trials (16-17), then through salvation and deliverance (18-22), and finally through a change of heart that reveres and serves God (23-25).
Chapter 20 is a short parable that is designed to show Judah the follow of trusting Egypt or any other nation. The thesis of the parable is verse 5-6, which say, ” Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’ ” The parable involved Isaiah walking naked and barefoot for three years (2-3) to symbolize Sargon’s siege of Ashdod. The entire thing was to show Judah that any national alliance not only betrayed God, but would end in disaster and defeat.
These judgment oracles are aimed at Judah’s neighbors, but were for Judah’s edification and admonition. The bottom line was simple. Trust God and not man.
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